c. 1400, porke despyne, from Old French porc-espin (early 13c., Modern French porc-épic), literally "spiny pig," from Latin porcus "hog" + spina "thorn, spine" (see spine [..]

a wild animal with a coat of quills mixed with hairs

shtekhl-khazer

To see a porcupine in your dreams, denotes that you will disapprove any new enterprise and repel new friendships with coldness. For a young woman to dream of a porcupine, portends that she will fear her lover. To see a dead one, signifies your abolishment of ill feelings and possessions.   

(n) relatively large rodents with sharp erectile bristles mingled with the fur

(See PETER.)

Common name for large, quilled Rodents (Rodentia) comprised of two Families: Old World porcupines (Hystricidae) and New World porcupines (Erethizontidae).

Nickname for a wire rope when broken wires stand out from it.

A sewer cleaning tool the same diameter as the pipe being cleaned. The tool is a steel cylinder having solid ends with eyes cast in them to which a cable can be attached and pulled by a winch. Many sh [..]